CHAPTER 271: Qin & Tang Extra 45

Qin Yinong had joked with Tang Ruoyao yesterday that her father might wake up from sheer joy upon seeing her. Now, she could distinctly feel Tang Hanzhang's finger twitch in her palm.

"Is he... waking up?" Qin Yinong asked, her words slow and deliberate, eyes wide with disbelief.

Tang Ruoyao instinctively took a step forward but stopped herself, remembering the countless disappointments they had endured before. She steadied herself and calmly explained to Qin Yinong, "It's just normal muscle spasms."

She went on to elaborate—aside from muscle spasms, there were also eye movements and other involuntary reactions.

Qin Yinong felt guilty for getting Tang Ruoyao's hopes up over nothing, but Tang Ruoyao would never blame her. She fetched another chair from near the window and sat beside Qin Yinong, gently wrapping an arm around the woman's shoulders and resting her chin there, closing her eyes softly.

Qin Yinong looked down at Tang Hanzhang—his finger twitched again.

Even though Tang Ruoyao had explained it, Qin Yinong couldn't help the leap in her chest.

Her gaze drifted upward to Tang Hanzhang's face.

His eyes remained half-open as always, his pupils occasionally shifting without purpose. There was no change. Qin Yinong sighed inwardly—miracles didn't come so easily.

Then, she noticed something glistening at the corner of Tang Hanzhang's eye. She reached out, her fingertip brushing against a faint dampness.

The moment she touched it, another tear slid down his cheek.

Qin Yinong swallowed hard. "Do vegetative patients cry?"

Tang Ruoyao, eyes still closed, murmured, "If stimulated by light, maybe?"

"Would they keep crying?"

"Probably not?" Without consciousness or thought, how could they?

Tang Hanzhang's eyes seemed slightly more open than before—or maybe not. The only certainty was the tears, slowly soaking into the pillow beneath him.

Qin Yinong said numbly, "But... your dad is crying."

Tang Ruoyao's eyes snapped open. She turned toward the hospital bed, her pupils contracting sharply.

"Dad!" Tang Ruoyao grabbed his hand and called out loudly.

Qin Yinong quickly stepped aside, letting Tang Ruoyao rush to the bedside.

"Dad!"

Tang Hanzhang's tears fell faster now.

He still couldn't fully open his eyes, but with all his strength, he managed to move his finger once more.

Tang Ruoyao burst into tears. "Dad, can you hear me?"

Qin Yinong had already pressed the call button for the doctor.

The medical staff arrived swiftly, surrounding Tang Hanzhang for a thorough examination.

Tang Ruoyao waited outside, her legs unsteady from the emotional shock. She clung to Qin Yinong's arm, leaning heavily against her.

Tear tracks still marked her face as she buried it against Qin Yinong's neck, warm tears quickly dampening the collar of her shirt.

Qin Yinong gently patted her back, murmuring soothingly, "It's okay."

The door in front of them opened.

A doctor in a white coat, a black pen tucked into his chest pocket, stepped out with a smile. "Congratulations—the patient has indeed regained consciousness."

Joy had barely begun to rise in Tang Ruoyao when the doctor added, "But—"

Her body swayed. Qin Yinong tightened her embrace, holding her steady.

The doctor said, "However, since the cause of the patient's deep coma was cranial trauma, there may be symptoms like memory loss or impaired consciousness. We'll need to observe further for specifics. Additionally, the patient had previous leg injuries with severe muscle atrophy. After waking up, he'll require long-term rehabilitation, though the results aren't guaranteed. There's also the risk of permanent disability."

Tang Ruoyao bowed deeply to the doctor and said gratefully, "Thank you, Doctor."

No matter what, as long as he woke up, that was enough.

The doctor added, "But there's no need to worry too much. The patient is currently in good condition. If he does experience memory loss, you can try talking to him about past events and taking him to familiar places. The chances of recovery are quite high."

Tang Ruoyao thanked the doctor again and asked, "Can I go in to see my dad now?"

The doctor replied, "Yes, but he can't speak yet. It'll likely take a few more days before he can say simple words."

Tang Ruoyao said, "Thank you, Doctor."

The doctor nodded with a smile and left.

Tang Ruoyao pushed open the hospital room door but felt something was missing. She turned around and saw Qin Yinong standing still in place.

Tang Ruoyao: "???"

Qin Yinong bit her lip, her expression flustered.

Tang Ruoyao closed the door again and walked over to her, asking with concern, "What's wrong?"

Qin Yinong said, "Maybe I shouldn't go in."

Tang Ruoyao: "Why not? If it weren't for you, my dad might not have woken up. He'll definitely be happy to see you."

Qin Yinong lowered her voice hesitantly, "He did wake up, but whether it was out of happiness or anger... that's hard to say."

Tang Ruoyao: "..."

Qin Yinong continued, "Otherwise, why was he crying? And crying so hard at that."

Tang Ruoyao: "..."

It had to be said that what Qin Yinong said made sense.

No matter how wonderful Qin Yinong was, she was still a woman—and in the eyes of conventional society, relationships between women weren't widely accepted. In Tang Ruoyao's memory, Tang Hanzhang wasn't overly conservative, but he hadn't shown particularly progressive views either. It was only after meeting Qin Yinong that Tang Ruoyao realized she could fall in love with a woman, and she had never discussed his stance on the LGBTQ+ community with him.

Could he really have woken up out of anger?

Not just anger—but enough to make him cry.

Tang Ruoyao: "..."

Qin Yinong nudged her shoulder and urged, "Go on in. I'll wait out here."

Tang Ruoyao pressed her lips together and said, "Alright, I'll go in first. I won't be long."

Qin Yinong replied, "No need to rush. I'll take a walk around."

Without further delay, Tang Ruoyao pushed the door open and entered.

Qin Yinong let out a quiet hiss, pressing her forehead against the cold hospital wall, her fingers nervously scratching at the surface.

What should she do?

......

Tang Ruoyao found Qin Yinong in a small pavilion downstairs in the hospital complex. Qin Yinong pulled her hood up slightly and said in surprise, "That was fast?"

Tang Ruoyao sat beside her and said, "My dad fell asleep. The doctor said he needs plenty of rest."

Qin Yinong turned to look at her. Tang Ruoyao leaned back on the bench, her hands supporting her weight as she gazed into the distance, her expression uncharacteristically relaxed, a faint smile playing on her lips.

This sight reminded Qin Yinong of herself—filled with hope, watching Qin Lunong recover day by day after her suicide attempt.

It felt so good.

Qin Yinong reached out and covered Tang Ruoyao's hand with her own. Tang Ruoyao let her hold it, tilting her head up to look at the vast sky. "I'm so afraid this is all just a dream." she murmured.

Qin Yinong extended her other hand to Tang Ruoyao's lips. "Bite me, and you'll know if it's a dream."

Tang Ruoyao kissed the back of her hand instead and said, "I won't bite." She added, "Even if it really is a dream, I'd be willing."

Qin Yinong moved closer, wrapping her arms around Tang Ruoyao and pulling her into an embrace.

"Whether it's a dream or reality, I'll be with you all the way."

Tang Ruoyao rested her head on Qin Yinong's shoulder and softly hummed in agreement.

In the evening, Tang Fei called to invite them for dinner. Tang Ruoyao made an excuse, saying she had something to attend to and wouldn't be joining. After hanging up, she suddenly remembered Jiang Xuezhen, who still held the title of Tang Hanzhang's wife. She turned to Qin Yinong and asked, "Should we tell her about my dad waking up?"

Qin Yinong replied, "We can't hide it forever. Besides, she has the right to know."

Tang Ruoyao let out a quiet "Oh" and pursed her lips.

Qin Yinong ruffled her hair and asked, "You're not happy?"

Tang Ruoyao muttered, "I don't like her. I don't understand what my dad ever saw in someone like her. I want him to divorce her."

Qin Yinong made a thoughtful sound. "Let the adults handle their own affairs."

Tang Ruoyao said, "I'm just venting. I won't interfere with his freedom. And in front of my dad, she wouldn't dare say anything to me. But I'm worried—once I go back to school, will Jiang Xuezhen take proper care of him? The doctor said rehabilitation will take a long time. If anything goes wrong because of her, I..." Her voice choked up.

Qin Yinong patted her back soothingly until Tang Ruoyao gradually calmed down. "It's fine. I can request a year's leave from school and watch over him myself."

A flicker of disapproval crossed Qin Yinong's eyes, but she quickly masked it. After a moment's thought, she suggested, "There's another option—we could transfer him to the capital. We're both there, so it'd be easier to take care of him, and you wouldn't have to take a break from school."

"Wouldn't that be too much trouble for you?"

"You're talking to me about trouble?"

Tang Ruoyao sensed the danger in her tone and shrank back slightly.

Qin Yinong pinched the nape of her neck and chuckled softly. "It's not entirely for you, anyway. If I earn enough goodwill from my future father-in-law, he'll feel better about entrusting his daughter to me."

Tang Ruoyao mumbled under her breath, "What 'entrusting'..." But her ears gradually flushed pink.

Qin Yinong glanced at the darkening sky. "It's getting late. Should we go out for dinner?"

Tang Ruoyao nodded. "Let's tell Jiang Xuezhen about Dad tomorrow. I'm too happy today—I don't want to see her."

Qin Yinong indulged her with a smile. "Alright, whatever you say."

After dinner, they returned to find the caregiver still dutifully tending to Tang Hanzhang. She had clearly heard the news of his awakening and immediately congratulated Tang Ruoyao upon seeing her. Before Tang Ruoyao could react, Qin Yinong handed the caregiver a generous red envelope.

Tang Ruoyao smiled and let her take the lead.

Tang Hanzhang was asleep, and Tang Ruoyao sat quietly by his bedside, watching him intently.

After a while, she felt Qin Yinong's fingers brush her cheek. Then, in a blur, a plate of sliced apples appeared before her. Tang Ruoyao beamed, accepting the plate and spearing a piece to feed Qin Yinong first before taking one for herself.

Qin Yinong's gaze drifted to the other family care bed in the room. She lowered her voice. "Should I go back and grab some fresh clothes?"

Tang Hanzhang had just woken up—Tang Ruoyao would undoubtedly stay at the hospital tonight, and likely many nights after.

Tang Ruoyao stood up and said, "I'll go. It's not safe for you to go back alone."

Qin Yinong: "???"

Tang Ruoyao smiled faintly, "Your face isn't safe. I'm not as famous as you, and this is my home—I can move around freely." She pressed Qin Yinong's shoulders, making her sit on the edge of the bed, and added, "You stay here and watch over my dad. I'll be back soon."

Qin Yinong opened her mouth to speak, but Tang Ruoyao had already hurried out.

Qin Yinong's gaze fell on Tang Hanzhang's peacefully sleeping face. She swallowed hard and silently prayed: 'Don't wake up, please don't wake up.'

But the heavens seemed determined to oppose her.

Tang Hanzhang's eyelashes fluttered, and slowly, his eyes opened—the first thing he saw was Qin Yinong sitting by his hospital bed.

Their eyes met, and time froze.

Qin Yinong felt her bl0od turn cold and sluggish in her veins, inch by inch. Her usually eloquent mouth, which had no trouble speaking in front of an unconscious Tang Hanzhang, now felt as if it had been glued shut.

After what felt like an eternity, she managed to force her facial muscles into a stiff, obedient smile.

"Hi, Uncle."

Tang Hanzhang studied her for a few seconds, his dark pupils making his gaze seem especially deep.

Those few seconds were among the longest in Qin Yinong's life—comparable only to the moment at twenty when she had dashed into the middle of the road to stop Han Yuping's car, the headlights blinding her as she stood frozen.

Then, Tang Hanzhang closed his eyes again.

Qin Yinong's entire body relaxed, her limbs going weak, nearly sliding off the chair.

Tang Ruoyao finally returned.

"Did my dad wake up?" she asked, placing the clothes she had brought on the sofa.

"...He did."

"What's wrong? You look strange."

"Nothing. Just wondering when your dad will be able to speak."

"Hey, wasn't it 'father-in-law' earlier?" Tang Ruoyao teased, noticing the change in address.

Qin Yinong pressed a finger to her lips and hissed a sharp "Shh!"

Tang Ruoyao chuckled softly.

So it turned out she was only bold when Tang Hanzhang couldn't react. Now that he was awake, she was like a paper tiger. Who knew she could be so flustered?

After a quick shower in the hospital bathroom, the two lay side by side on the narrow single bed in the adjacent room, pressed tightly together. Qin Yinong fidgeted uncomfortably, shifting this way and that.

Thinking she was uncomfortable to such a small bed, Tang Ruoyao suggested, "Maybe you should stay at a hotel instead. It's cramped here, and you can come back in the morning."

Qin Yinong sighed. "That's not it."

"Not what?"

Qin Yinong hesitated.

Even if her father-in-law was unconscious, sharing a bed with his daughter right in front of him—who wouldn't feel awkward?

"Never mind," Qin Yinong gave up, closing her eyes in resignation. "Goodnight."

Tang Ruoyao turned and kissed the woman's lips.

"Goodnight."

Just as she was about to close her eyes, she noticed a flush creeping up Qin Yinong's ears, spreading like wildfire across her fair cheeks.

Tang Ruoyao's eyes widened.

Perhaps sensing her gaze, Qin Yinong yanked the blanket over her head.

Tang Ruoyao laughed softly.

She got up to turn off the light before settling back into bed.

In the darkness, Tang Hanzhang opened his eyes once more—then slowly closed them again.

The next morning, Tang Ruoyao took her dirty laundry home to wash and informed Jiang Xuezhen, Tang Fei, that Tang Hanzhang had woken up. Jiang Xuezhen was watching TV in her room and muted it upon hearing the news, exclaiming in shock, "What did you say?"

Tang Ruoyao replied coolly, "My dad, your husband, he's awake." She curled her lips into a faint, cold smile, wondering if Jiang Xuezhen even remembered this man existed.

"When did this happen?"

"Yesterday afternoon."

"Why are you only telling me now?"

Tang Fei, who had woken up early, rushed back to his room to grab the earmuffs Tang Ruoyao had bought him and said eagerly, "Sis, hurry, I want to go see Dad at the hospital."

Tang Ruoyao said, "Wait for your mom."

A few minutes later, Jiang Xuezhen was also dressed and ready, and the three of them left together.

Jiang Xuezhen stormed into the hospital room like a whirlwind and froze momentarily upon seeing Qin Yinong there. But she had no time to dwell on it—she rushed to the bedside, grabbed Tang Hanzhang's hand, and called out, "Old Tang, Old Tang? It's me, Xuezhen."

Tang Hanzhang showed no response.

Jiang Xuezhen turned to glare at Tang Ruoyao, her eyes red, likely from anger. "Didn't you say he was awake?"

Tang Ruoyao replied impassively, "Be patient."

After failing to wake him, Jiang Xuezhen pulled Tang Fei, who was standing behind her, forward and pushed him toward the bed. "Call him 'Dad,'" she ordered.

Tang Fei obediently said, "Dad."

Tang Hanzhang slowly stirred awake.

Jiang Xuezhen: "..."

Was he doing this on purpose to spite her?

A faint, almost imperceptible smile flickered across Tang Ruoyao's lips.

Jiang Xuezhen soon realized Tang Hanzhang couldn't speak and turned on Tang Ruoyao again, demanding answers in a hostile tone. Tang Ruoyao relayed the possible aftereffects the doctor had mentioned, but Jiang Xuezhen refused to believe it. "Then why do people in TV shows get up and walk right after waking up?"

Tang Ruoyao scoffed. "That's exactly what it is—a TV show."

Jiang Xuezhen snapped, "You—"

Tang Ruoyao cut her off. "Dad needs rest. Say what you need to say, then go home. I can handle things here."

For some reason, Jiang Xuezhen had a bad feeling—was Tang Hanzhang pretending to be asleep just so she couldn't wake him? Her eyes darted around suspiciously before she stiffened her neck and retorted, "Why should I leave? I'm his wife. If anyone stays, it should be me."

Tang Ruoyao sneered, "I don't recall you being this eager before."

Jiang Xuezhen barked, "Is that any way to speak to your elders?"

Her voice grew louder, and Tang Ruoyao, not wanting to disturb Tang Hanzhang, decided against arguing further. If Jiang Xuezhen wanted to stay, so be it—she'd see how long she lasted.

Qin Yinong gently pressed Tang Ruoyao's shoulder, signaling her to step outside with her.

Once in the hallway, Qin Yinong said, "I have to return to Beijing. My flight's this afternoon."

Tang Ruoyao was surprised. "So soon? Do you have work?"

Qin Yinong smiled. "I have a show to film—did you forget?"

The reality show required three days of filming each week, with the remaining four days off. Qin Yinong had already spent three days in Z City and needed to return soon to make it in time.

Tang Ruoyao gazed at her for a long moment before murmuring, "I'm sorry."

Qin Yinong had traveled all this way, only to spend two of those days in the hospital with her.

"What's there to apologize for? Your dad waking up is a joyous occasion. We'll have plenty of time for dates later." Qin Yinong leaned in close, her voice dropping to a whisper as she enunciated each word, "There will be time."

Tang Ruoyao paused, then caught the implied meaning, her cheeks flushing slightly.

She nodded shyly.

Qin Yinong straightened up, her expression perfectly composed. "Let's go back to the room."

'Talking about such things in a hospital is utterly inappropriate.'

Tang Ruoyao was amazed by her ability to switch expressions so effortlessly.

Qin Yinong had an afternoon flight, and at noon, Tang Ruoyao had originally planned to take her to a restaurant she loved during her high school days. However, due to the New Year holiday, the place was closed. In the end, they walked along the street and entered the first small stir-fry shop they saw that was open.

After the meal, they went home to pick up the luggage. Tang Ruoyao took a taxi to send her to the airport, their hands tightly clasped together the whole way. Qin Yinong only allowed her to be dropped off at the terminal entrance, forbidding her from getting out of the car. Tang Ruoyao watched her walk inside, her eyes stinging with unshed tears.

Even after Qin Yinong's figure disappeared from sight, Tang Ruoyao remained lost in thought. The driver urged her impatiently, and only then did she snap back to reality and leave by car.

Jiang Xuezhen had boastfully taken over the caregiver's duties but ended up sweating profusely from the effort. Tang Ruoyao watched coldly from the sidelines, occasionally asking the actual caregiver where Jiang Xuezhen fell short and pointing out her mistakes.

This infuriated Jiang Xuezhen, leading to several heated arguments in the hospital room. With Tang Hanzhang's recovery as the top priority, Tang Ruoyao refused to indulge her tantrums. If Jiang Xuezhen dared to make a scene, Tang Ruoyao wouldn't hesitate to kick her out. Tang Hanzhang was rarely awake, but whenever he was, his eyes would fix on Tang Ruoyao, unblinking, filled with warmth.

In contrast, Jiang Xuezhen didn't even receive a single glance from him.

He couldn't speak, so no one knew what he was thinking, how much of his memory had returned, or whether he still had normal awareness. But through his gaze, one could discern simple likes and dislikes.

Jiang Xuezhen's ominous premonition grew stronger by the day, and her arrogance gradually faded.

Three days later, as Tang Ruoyao sat by his hospital bed feeding him porridge, Tang Hanzhang's eyes welled up with tears. His lips trembled as he struggled to utter his first words: "Pei... Yun..."

It was a name—the name of Tang Ruoyao's mother.

Tang Ruoyao's nose stung, and her eyes reddened. "Dad, I'm not Peiyun. I'm your daughter."

Tang Hanzhang stared at her for a long time, his eyes shimmering with moisture, before slowly forcing out another word: "Yao..."

Tang Ruoyao choked back a sob. "Yes, it's me. I'm just glad you still recognize me."

Tang Hanzhang managed a faint smile and reached out his hand. Tang Ruoyao set down the porridge bowl and clasped his frail fingers between her own.

Tang Hanzhang gazed at her.

"Dad... is... sorry...for you..."

Tang Ruoyao shook her head, tears splashing onto the pristine white hospital sheets.

Tang Hanzhang sighed.

Much later, when Tang Hanzhang's speech and consciousness had gradually recovered to near-normal levels, Tang Ruoyao finally understood the true meaning behind his apology. Around six months after his coma, he had begun to regain some awareness. He could sense what was happening around him and hear people speaking, but he couldn't wake up or communicate in any way—as if his soul had been trapped inside his own body, utterly immobile.

He had heard Jiang Xuezhen's daily complaints, how she had initially visited him occasionally but gradually grew negligent, sometimes not even coming to the hospital for a month. He had also heard Tang Ruoyao holding his hand, recounting past events to him over and over again...

He had been terribly wrong. He thought he had built a complete family, dedicating himself wholeheartedly to its well-being, but in reality, he had thrown Tang Ruoyao into the fire. He had failed his daughter and, even more so, the late Zhuo Peiyun.

At this stage, Tang Hanzhang was experiencing some memory loss, but it wasn't severe—far better than expected.

Tang Yaoyao planned to take him to visit some memorable places once his health improved a little.

Qin Yinong flew straight back to Z City after finishing the show, not even stopping by home, which made Qin Lunong scold her as an ungrateful wretch.

Guan Han had already started her new job.

After checking into a suite at a hotel near the hospital and dropping off their luggage, Guan Han accompanied Qin Yinong to the medical facility.

Upon reaching the door of the hospital room, Qin Yinong suddenly stopped, turned around, and started scratching the wall.

Guan Han: "???"

'What new weird hobby had Qin Jie discovered in the days she was away?'

Fortunately, the hospital walls were tiled, preventing Qin Yinong from actually peeling off any paint. She stood still, took a deep breath, and stared at the door in front of her. Watching her nervous demeanor, Guan Han unconsciously held her breath, waiting for Qin Yinong to push the door open so she could finally exhale.

But then Qin Yinong took two steps back, tilted her chin toward Guan Han, and said, "Open it."

Guan Han: "..."

Well, she was the assistant. after all.

The door creaked as it swung open from the outside.

One, two, three pairs of eyes in the room looked over at the same time. Guan Han, who could remain calm even if a mountain collapsed in front of her, wasn't afraid of a few gazes. She greeted Tang Ruoyao, "Miss Ruoyao."

Tang Ruoyao looked behind her.

Where there was Guan Han, there was Qin Yinong—so where was Qin Yinong?

At that moment, Qin Yinong was cowering, poking Guan Han's arm with a finger and whispering, "Is her dad awake?"

'Her dad?'

Guan Han's gaze landed on the only man in the room—Tang Hanzhang, lying on the hospital bed—before she turned her head slightly and replied, "He's awake, Qin Jie."

'He's awake!'

Qin Yinong's vision darkened, and she braced herself against the wall.

Guan Han was dawdling and muttering at the door, so Tang Ruoyao simply stood up and walked over. The moment Qin Yinong saw her, something inexplicable took over—she raised her hand and waved with an unusually bright smile. "Hi."

Tang Ruoyao froze as if struck by lightning, her lips twitching.

Qin Yinong wanted to slap herself!

'Hi? Hi?! What the hell was that?!'

Qin Yinong awkwardly put her hand down. She forced a polite smile and asked courteously, "Excuse me, is your father in?" Her voice was uncharacteristically gentle and well-mannered.

Tang Ruoyao: "..."

'What was this act all about?'

Tang Ruoyao took a few steps forward and pulled Qin Yinong outside.

Once the door was firmly shut, Tang Ruoyao asked with concern, "What's wrong with you?"

Qin Yinong remembered her behavior just now, and her expression was difficult to describe.

She waved her hand in frustration. She had lost all her dignity and was too embarrassed to say anything.

Tang Ruoyao studied her for a moment before narrowing her eyes in realization. "You... you're not scared, are you?"

Qin Yinong scoffed. "Me? Scared?" Her expression was full of disdain.

At most, she was a little nervous.

To Tang Ruoyao, she seemed to be bluffing. After a moment's thought, she asked, "Then... nervous?"

Qin Yinong held up her thumb and index finger and said, "Just a little bit."

Even if it was a lot, Tang Ruoyao couldn't call her out on it. Smiling, Tang Ruoyao reassured her, "Don't be nervous. My dad is very easygoing."

The phrase "my dad" seemed to trigger Qin Yinong's nerves—she immediately tensed up again.

Taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly in increments, Qin Yinong declared, "I'm ready."

Tang Ruoyao gripped the doorknob. "Shall we go in, then?"

Qin Yinong: "Wait!"

But Tang Ruoyao didn't listen. She pushed the door open, tightly grasping Qin Yinong's hand, and led her straight to the center of the room.

Qin Yinong: "!!!"

Not only was Tang Hanzhang awake—he was sitting up!

"Dad." Tang Ruoyao wasn't sure if Tang Hanzhang had been conscious when Qin Yinong last visited, so she introduced her again, "This is my friend. She came specifically to see you."

Qin Yinong stood stiff as a board.

Tang Ruoyao lowered her chin slightly and whispered a reminder, "Greet him."

Qin Yinong snapped back to attention.

Right, she needed to greet him.

Her heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might leap out of her throat. She repeated to herself several times: 'Call him Uncle, not Father-in-law. Call him Uncle, not Father-in-law. Call him Father-in-law, not Uncle.'

Qin Yinong stared straight at Tang Hanzhang on the hospital bed, her fingers trembling uncontrollably at her sides, and blurted out, "Father-in-law!"

Tang Hanzhang: "..."

The air froze.

Author's Note: 

Qin Yinong: I didn't say Uncle?! (⊙_⊙)

[Note] Inspired by a speech titled "I Was Once a Vegetative State Patient"—please don't scrutinize inaccuracies.

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